Cougar Mountain Software — Cougar Mountain FUND Suite

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From the Oct. 2007 Review of NFP Accounting Systems

Cougar Mountain Software recently released Version 12 of its FUND Suite, providing small to midsize nonprofits and government entities with a comprehensive financial program. This new release contains numerous upgrades and enhancements throughout the system.

EASE OF USE/FLEXIBILITY – 5 Stars
The main screen contains a dropdown menu that offers system functions such as the new Snapshot Reports, Options and Help. Below is a menu bar with colorful icons that provide access to the system setup wizard, company setup and all installed modules. The software setup wizard assists with setting up all software functions including fund module preferences, AP codes and vendors, AR customers and codes (if AR is purchased), payment terms, and purchase order and payroll criteria. The main user interface will update as the user switches from module to module, displaying the options available within that module.

Data-entry screens are clutter-free and contain lookup options throughout. All modules contain numerous user-defined fields that can be utilized as needed. FUND Suite uses a batch system for transaction entry, and the Data-Exchange module allows easy importing and exporting of data into and out of FUND Suite.

MODULES/SCALABILITY – 4.5 Stars
GL, AP, Bank Reconciliation, Purchase Order, Payroll, and the Data Exchange module are included with FUND Suite. Also included is the Report Writer module. FUND Suite was designed to integrate with the complete Cougar Mountain Software line of modules, making it easy to purchase a core system and add modules when needed.

Smaller nonprofits may benefit from Cougar Mountain Software FUND Accounting, which is ideal for smaller nonprofits with less financial requirements, or Cougar Mountain Software FUND Revenue, which is suitable for those running mail order or fundraising entities. Cougar Mountain Software offers a wide variety of add-on products, including the new PDF-eXPLODE e-Doc Generator, which allows users to create targeted e-mails to donor or campaign lists as well as produce e-mail invoices and statements and process purchase orders electronically. Other add-on options include GL Report Generator, Fixed Assets, Credit Card Authorization and Single Point, which uses Applianz Technologies to allow secure remote access to system data from just about anywhere.

FEATURES/FUNCTIONALITY – 4.5 Stars
FUND Suite allows users to create an account structure that will work with their organization, with up to 45 characters and six segments. FUND Suite utilizes a 36-month calendar, allowing books to be closed on the organization’s timeframe. FUND Suite allows for the tracking of financial information for numerous organizations with the ability to later consolidate financial information when needed. The Purchase Order module offers an encumbrance function, so users will always have the necessary funds allocated for future expenses. Allocations can be easily processed with options to specify a transaction and post the opposing side to unlimited accounts as needed. When processing allocations, users can choose from a fixed cash or fixed percentage amount, or use the system default. And the expenses for an organization can easily be allocated to multiple GL accounts. Users can easily work in multiple modules simultaneously, and using Data Exchange allows for the import of vital data when needed.